https://doi.org/10.4081/itjm.2023.1623

Burnout and quality of life among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia

Vol. 17 No. 2 (2023)
Published: 22 August 2023
Healthcare professionals during COVID-19, KSA
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Authors

Mohamed Salih Mahfouz
mm.mahfouz@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3155-6381
Family and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmad Y. Alqassim
Family and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah A. Alharbi
Family and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulelah A. Najmi
Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed M. Abualgasem
Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.
Albaraa Y. Abbas
Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.
Mazin A. Sabi
Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulaziz A. Kaal
Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.
Huda H. Hakami
Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed A. Muaddi
Family and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.
Rashad Al-Sanosi
Family and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.

Background and Objectives. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) have had to deal with large numbers of confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 and were at a high risk of burnout and dissatisfaction regarding their work-life integration. This article aims to assess burnout, the work-life balance (WLB), and quality of life (QoL) among healthcare workers and the relationship between these aspects in Saudi Arabia. Methods. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 491 HCPs from five secondary hospitals in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Three standardized questionnaires were used to gather data, including WLB, burnout, and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF. Results. Healthcare professionals struggled to balance their work and personal lives during COVID-19 and reported many burnout symptoms and a low level of QoL. Two-thirds (68.8%) of HCPs arrived home late from work and (56.6%) skipped a meal. HCPs who worked through a shift without any breaks were found in 57.8%. It was reported that 39.3% of HCPs felt frustrated by technology while being exhausted from their work (60.5%). The correlation coefficients between the WLB and health-related QoL (HRQoL) showed a significant negative correlation for all items, which ranged from (-.099 to -.403, P<0.05). The WLB and burnout scores were successful predictors of low levels of HRQoL (P<0.001 for both explanatory variables). Conclusions. Work-life imbalances, high levels of burnout, and low QoL levels are common among healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia during COVID-19. Hospital administration should address the WLB and reduce burnout symptoms among HCPs to increase satisfaction and improve the quality of care.

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How to Cite

Mahfouz, M. S., Alqassim, A. Y., Alharbi, A. A., Najmi, A. A., Abualgasem, M. M., Abbas, A. Y., Sabi, M. A., Kaal, A. A., Hakami, H. H., Muaddi, M. A., & Al-Sanosi, R. (2023). Burnout and quality of life among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. Italian Journal of Medicine, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/itjm.2023.1623
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